Honours even for Pumas

THE Pumas returned to league action after playing in cup competitions for the last two weekends against teams from higher divisions, looking to get back to winning ways.

In their way stood the league leaders Newcastle, who had a 100 per cent win record so far this season, and with the Pumas having lost only once, both managers were expecting a close game.

What transpired was a match with everything, goals, good saves, great defending and terrific battling by both sets of players, which left the spectators giving a loud round of applause at the end of the match.

The game flowed from end-to-end from the kick-off and it was the Pumas who struck first through Brunton after finding space on the edge of the box.

Newcastle immediately came back at the hosts and deservedly equalised before scoring a second goal to go in at half-time 1-2 up.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first and after a good save from the visitors’ keeper, Coates was on hand to level the scores when he reacted to the rebound at the back post.

The Pumas defence was standing firm with man-of-the-match Yates and MacDonald in particular impressing with a number of covering tackles.

This formed the basis for some good attacking lay through the midfield and from such a move Sanderson and Brunton linked up to give Henderson a chance at the edge of the box which he rifled into the roof of the net.

Back once again came Newcastle in search of another equaliser and it duly came with only a few minutes to go.

This was a fantastic game of football between two sides who will be right in the mix for honours come the end of the season if they play like that.